Elaquent has shared a new single titled “IYKYK”, featuring Ivan Ave. Prolific producer Elaquent has spent this decade forging a style all his own, internalizing the sounds of great producers like J Dilla and DJ Premier, but glitching and altering them to a point where his voice became inimitable. Elaquent is an artist whose been pivotal in emphasizing the varied influence of beat music, while helping to establish a vibrant beat music scene in Toronto. His latest song, “IYKYK”, features versatile Norwegian emcee Ivan Ave, and it contains a laid-back, vivid sound that entices the listener with its focused, collected feel.
Organic, warm pianos and grounded percussion open “IYKYK”, as a rich bass-line weaves an infectious groove beneath. As the layers of keys build gracefully, the track’s relaxed, sleek verses meld together smoothly with the instrumentation, giving the song added dynamics while keeping it cohesive. Ave’s calming flows and reflective vocals suit Elaquent’s breezy production, as the pair demonstrate a natural chemistry on “IYKYK”.
“IYKYK” is the first single from Elaquent’s forthcoming album Rediscovery, releasing on renowned label Mello Music Group. Give it a listen below.
Louisiana artist Nebula. has shared a new single titled “Jive”, produced by JUNE!. Following up his potent single “Through the fire” and EP Walking Aimless, “Jive” finds Nebula. delivering expressive verses atop hypnotic, subtly eery production from I’ll Never Die member JUNE!. “Jive” is a claustrophobic head-trip of a track that is unafraid to experiment and dabble in psychedelica, making for a captivating listen. Nebula.’s vocal tone suits the ominous edge of the production, while he keeps his flows dynamic in a manner that entices the listener and has them guessing. Overall, “Jive” treads into refreshing territory with its otherworldly ambiance, unsettling urgency, and gymnastic flows. Give it a listen below.
Skiii has connected with John Da Lemon and NAHreally for a new song called “Forget It”. Born and raised in Windsor, Ontario, Canada, Skiii began his career with a prolific streak of 20 instrumental projects between 2015-2019, before he delved into creating full songs with vocals. Replicating feelings and experiences through sounds and words, Skiii has built more momentum throughout projects like Adventures In 23rd Universe and Days In Detroit. For his latest offering, he connects with John Da Lemon and NAHreally for a laid-back, vivid new song, titled, “Forget It”.
“Forget It” conjures a warm, nostalgic soundscape with glowing xylophones, immersive, watery keys, and an organic-sounding rhythm section. Sounding unhurried and comfortable in its lane, the production sets an apt backdrop for the track’s smooth, focused flows, as the emcees come together with a natural synergy that translates to the relaxing feel of “Forget It”.
New Jersey producer Action Figure 973 has shared a new single titled “Untitled”, in collaboration with Eric the Red and KI Bohiti. The first single off Action Figure’s upcoming EP Wrestling School, “Untitled” makes for a potent, grimy cut that follows up well-received collaborations with Daniel Son, Josiah the Gift, Shane the Shaman, and more. “Untitled” contains grimy, ominous production that blends icy sheets of samples with a hard-hitting, sturdy rhythm section. Underscored by this imposing, creeping boom-bap laced soundscape, the emcees deliver focused, cutting verses that match the rawness of the production. Give Action Figure’s latest song “Untitled” a listen below.
LOS KEMET has dropped off a fresh single called “Barter 7 (Dig Dat)”, alongside a visual directed by LOS and Thomas G. LOS KEMET is an artist originally from the deep southern city of Jackson, Mississippi, who has resided in various big cities like Chicago, Memphis, Atlanta, and now Austin, Texas. The variety of styles he provides across his discography are a clear depiction of where he has resided- and he chooses to dub his sound “New Soul” or “Seeds Of The South”. LOS’ latest offering is “Barter 7”, a smooth, versatile joint that follows up his well-received album Got Drunk For The Most High from February 2023. Featuring an engaging new visual that uses hazy, warm shots to effectively capture the track’s sound, “Barter 7 (Dig Dat)” is a potent new release from the Mississippi-born artist.
Sonically, “Barter 7 (Dig Dat)”- produced by @guttylim0 & Zach Neiss– uses warm grooves and immersive keys to conjure a feeling of assurance and confidence, laden with crisp percussion that locks in a hypnotic rhythm. LOS sounds light on his feet on the microphone, weaving together dynamic lines with ease and never falling into a predictable rhyme pattern. Even throwing in subtle yet memorable melodic flourishes, LOS demonstrates his diverse skillset as an emcee and vocalist with “Barter 7 (Dig Dat)”. The video captures the song’s laid-back charisma with its easygoing yet stylish appeal and vibrant warmth, adding an engaging, cohesive visual accompaniment.
Check out the new video for “Barter 7 (Dig Dat)” here:
The Bronx artist Ricky Mapes has shared a new song, titled “windowPAIN”. The single uses soulful, subtly dreamlike instrumentation and insightful lyricism to create a reflective mood. Following up a prolific streak of releases for the hard-working Mapes, “windowPAIN”’s laid-back warmth feels immersive, and the confessional nature of his verses paints a vivid picture of his mind-state and environment. With patient grooves and a nostalgic sound, “windowPAIN” finds moments of stillness and observes them keenly, showing why Mapes is truly a gifted lyricist. Give Ricky Mapes’ latest song “windowPAIN” a listen below now.
London artist Lynx Cane has shared a new video for his self-produced song “MANNA”. The baritone-voiced emcee has recently been carving his own lane for his spiritually-focused, vivid lyricism and engaging sound. His 2021 Garden of Gethsemane EP demonstrated this with its esoteric verses and jazzy, laid-back sound- while the track in focus, “MANNA” instead finds Cane taking on a hard-edged, trap-laced style. “MANNA”’s bristling, electrifying synths take on a subtle rage influence, while bouncy 808s and crisp percussion build a potent groove. He handles the imposing beat with ease, delivering cutting verses with his textural baritone delivery and contrasts nicely with the instrumental’s highs. The new video, directed by Milo Ricketts-Mason features vibrant, fast-paced shots set in London that suit the song’s off-the-wall energy, featuring an engaging performance from Cane. Give the new video for “MANNA” a watch below.
West Coast legend Blu and prolific production outfit Real Bad Man recently shared their collaborative project Bad News– a blazing 8-track offering that displays Blu’s characteristic penchant for rich, vivid lyricism atop Real Bad Man’s potent instrumentation. The pair have now shared a visual for the title track “Bad News”, an immense cut that opens their recent project with captivating energy. “Bad News” finds Blu lacing the track with poetic, thought-provoking lines at a rapid pace atop dusky, subtly ominous strings and horns. As organic percussion and memorable bass build up a hypnotic groove, he launches into a verbal assault that keeps the listener on their toes with each line. The new visual, features crisp shots and an attention-grabbing performance from Blu, capturing the track’s vigorous energy.
Watch the video for “Bad News” here, from Blu and Real Bad Man’s Bad News project, released on Real Bad Man Records.
Chicago standout D2x captivated us with his song “Waves & Moonlights”, a track from his recent LP Hotel 1105.First hitting the scene in 2018, D2x has since carved a unique lane within Chicago and beyond for his soulful, introspective sound. After his momentum catapulted further with his debut album The Color Blue, D2x continued his run with his potent new album Hotel 1105. “Waves & Moonlights”, a standout track from the project, caught our attention for its elegant sound and sharply-crafted dynamic vocals.
Atop swells of graceful keys, refined percussion, and infectious bass, D2x demonstrates focus and confident mic presence with a series of vivid verses. Underscored by flourishes of electric guitars that add layers to the track, he build eclectic lines into a memorable hook that ties the song’s graceful energy together succinctly.
Give D2x’s track “Waves & Moonlights” a listen below.
Nigerian singer JazzZ and Zimbabwean producer Tenten captivated us in July with their collaborative album ABSINTHE, a hazy, dream-like blend of hypnotic alternative R&B cuts. With a warm, immersive feel and poignant, organic sonics, ABSINTHE presents a character-rich, intimate offering from JazzZ and Tenten that remains as one of our favourite releases this summer.
Fatboi Sharif and Steel Tipped Dove- ‘Decay’
New Jersey’s Fatboi Sharif and New York’s Steel Tipped Dove connected for their LP Decay, which dropped in July on Backwoodz Studioz. An uncompromisingly experimental, head-trip of a record that lives up to its namesake with dilapidated, raw instrumentation and apocalyptic lyricism. On Decay, Sharif sounds at home atop Steel Tipped Dove’s frigid, asymmetrical production, weaving together idiosyncratic flows and vivid imagery in a dizzying fashion.
YL- ‘Don’t Feed the Pigeons’
New York mainstay YL’s ‘Don’t Feed the Pigeons’ LP is a refreshing project from June that captures the oft-sought NY hip-hop essence without leaning too heavily into nostalgia. It demonstrates his versatility as he tackles beats ranging from drill to ambient-infused instrumentals, while conjuring a subtly surreal atmosphere that gives it unique character.
Fatboyshaun- ‘BLOOD ON MY CARHARTT’
South Texas’ Fatboyshaun dropped off his project BLOOD ON MY CARHARTT in early July- a tour-de-force of potent lyricism atop raw, soulful instrumentation. Demonstrating the versatility that makes him a layered emcee, BLOOD ON MY CARHARTT both packs a punch with imposing lines and introspects with heartfelt cuts, with Fatboyshaun sounding equally natural in both lanes.
Ché- ‘CHÉ’
New York’s Ché captivated us with his self-titled project from July. CHÉ is an album versatile in sound and heartfelt in content, as it finds the New York artist dropping a series of thoughtful verses atop engaging, diverse instrumentation. Throughout the record, an undercurrent of youthful energy is present- with shades of hope for brighter times, while also touching upon being in the thralls of depression and frustration. Using his bicycle as a motif, the album’s dynamic pace, observational nature, and NYC references are given added context and layers, giving CHÉ a conceptual edge.
Stounson- “Break Bread” (ft. Ricky Mapes)
“Break Bread” is a self-produced cut from Seattle’s Stounson, featuring The Bronx’s Ricky Mapes, released in August. With a DIY feel and psychedelic edge, “Break Bread” makes for a potent cross-coast collaboration between the two artists. Raw layers of samples give the track a pulsating rhythm, complemented by dusty drums and potent, cutting flows from Stounson and Mapes that demonstrate a natural chemistry.
